(The Family That Went to Oregon)
Ira and his family, about 1925.
Back Row: Flora, Ada (holding George), Ira.
Front Row: Martha, Goldie, Mary.
IRA HUGHES, 1876-1927, (no middle initial that we know of) was the third child of John Wesley and Sarah Vincent Hughes. Mary, Ira's oldest daughter, thinks that he came to Montana from Iowa in 1900, at age 24, along with his parents and the rest of the family. Just exactly where he was and what he did for the next few years is unclear, but he apparently continued west with the part of the family that went to Sumas, Washington.
He met Ada Irene Kincaid, whose parents lived in the Sumas area, and married her, March 10th, 1910, in Bellingham, Washington. It appears that Ira and Ada moved to Meadow Creek, Montana (now McAllister) shortly after their marriage. We don't know if Ira had filed on his homestead prior to that time or not. My folks, Tom and Emily Hughes, filed on their homestead on Dry Leonard Creek, in 1908, and Uncle Ira's homestead was just down the creek, so, jumping to conclusions, it seems that Ira probably homesteaded at about the same time. Their daughter, Mary, was born there November 18, 1911. They were still in Montana as of 1912; as their second child, a daughter, Flora, was born there on the12th of September, 1912. However, they went back to the coast, perhaps right after selling the homestead; as we find them living at Hugo, Oregon, when their third daughter, Martha, was born November 12, 1914.
They had two more children, Goldie, born in Powers, Oregon, June 3, 1918, and George, born in Napa Vine, Washington, May 22, 1922.
Ira died in Sumas, Washington, July 4, 1927. He was only 51 years old. Ada was a widow at age 34, with five children to support, ranging in age from two years to sixteen.
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Ada (Hughes)(Kincaid) Lathrop (1.3)
(Seen here on the right)
Married: (1st) Ira Hughes.
---------- (2nd) Jules Lathrop.
Ada was a widow at age 34, with five children to support, ranging in age from two years to sixteen. Mary's statement, “It was tough, but we made it.” gives you only a glimpse at what must have been a very difficult time indeed.
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The oldest daughter, Mary Hughes Kincaid, (1.3.1) was 16 years old when her father died. She recorded a tape about her recollections, June 3, 1996
"My Dad, Ira Hughes, was a wanderer, much as his father was before him.. He was a short barrel chested man-he looked much like Uncle Bill; but was a smaller man. When he and Mom went to Sumas, they went from there to McAllister, Montana, where I was born, and 10 months later, my sister, Flora, was born. We left there when Flora was just a baby and went to Medford, Oregon, where Gramma and Grampa Kincaid lived. We stayed with Gramma and Grampa Kincaid until Dad got a job doing ranch work for a doctor and we moved to Hugo, Oregon., where he worked on a farm, cleared land, took care of cattle and so forth. Mattie, my sister Mattie, was born there, at Hugo, and Gramma Hughes came out to take care of Mom and a doctor came from Grants Pass, Oregon. I can remember Gramma Hughes a little bit, that was the only time I saw her. She was a very efficient, lovely woman.
From Hugo, Oregon, we went by wagon, covered wagon, to Powers, Oregon. All I remember of that trip was that it rained and rained; the horses got stuck and we had to throw out some of the things they were taking so that the horses could move the wagon out of the mud.
We got into Powers, Oregon on Dec. 25th, and it was snowing. We moved into a tent there and Dad went to work sawing wood with a steam engine. My sister, Goldie, was born there. I started school in the first grade and when I was in the 2nd grade we moved from there to Napa Vine, Washington-we stayed there the longest place of any that we had lived. We were there for five years. Dad bought a small farm and built a house on it. My brother George was born in 1922 while we lived in Napa Vine.
We went from Napa Vine to Wendling, Oregon, where Grampa and Grampa Kincaid had lived. Dad went to work in a lathe mill. He didn't stay there very long as his health was bad so we moved from Wendling to Sumas where Dad wanted to be where his folks were.
I went to the eighth grade in Sumas and I quit and went to work to help support the family as Dad wasn't able to work any more. Mom and her kids went out in the berry fields and we earned our living that way. It was a hard go, but we made it.
I loved my Dad very much, he was a very affectionate man and always had time for us kids. He played the violin every evening to us, no matter how tired he was. He died very soon then, and Mom and us kids moved back to Wendling where I married Elton Kincaid. (I was married to him for 56 years before he died.) I have lived in this house -- Elton and I bought it fifty six years ago and I've lived here in the same place ever since.
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Martha (Mattie) Hughes Cofer (1.3.3)
Mary's younger sister, contributes additional details about the family.
"Mary says I was born in a converted chicken house in Hugo, Oregon. My first memories were of being very sick with a fever in our tent house in Powers. The Doctor thought I wouldn't last out the night. Goldie was born at Powers although I can't remember her being there when I was so sick. We moved from Powers to Napavine, WA on a small farm where I started school and brother George (Bud) was born. Then we moved to Wendling for a few years before moving to Sumas where Dad died and Mom moved her brood back to Wendling where her folks were living. In Sumas I can remember playing in Aunt Mattie's pump house. It was covered with grapevines. I can also remember going to Uncle Fred's and Aunt Lora's farm out of Sumas. Uncle Fred was my favorite Uncle and I think I made Aunt Ina my role model, although I fell really short of living up to her standards. Goldie and I stayed at Aunt Ina out on Lake Whatcom for two weeks after Dad died and I'm sure Aunt Ina was never so happy to see some one leave as she must have been us two. We used her highly polished hardwood floors to scoot scatter rugs on. Tracked mud across them as we were afraid to go in the back door because of a neighbor's dog. Had never seen a telephone and were scared to death to answer it. I think she thought we were pretty dumb! After Dad died Aunt Ina "took over". Made Goldie and I wear boys overalls to save our few dresses. We hated them!"